Tirupati laddoo row: Centre asks Andhra CM to immediately send report for detailed investigation

Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday said that his ministry has sought for a detailed report from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naida on allegations of use of “beef tallow”, “lard” (relating to pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee used for making laddoos that are offered as ‘prasadam’ to the deity at the Tirupati temple.

Addressing media in New Delhi, Nadda said that the report, once sent by the Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh government, will be examined by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and action will be taken after that.

“After getting the information, I have spoken to Chandrababu Naidu on Friday and took all the details. I have also asked him to immediately send me reports that are available to him. We will examine the report. I will also be speak to the state regulators and we will also investigate the source from where the report has come…”

More from India

'First Assam visit after Op Sindoor': PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 18,530 cr India to host fifth Coast Guard Global Summit in Chennai in 2027

“Suitable action will be take as per the food safety standards and as per law. FSSAI will examine the report and then we will take action,” the Union Health Minister further said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Tirupati Prasadam row, Union Health Minister JP Nadda says "I spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu after getting information about this and took details from him. I have asked him to share the available report so that I can examine it. I will also… pic.twitter.com/M6eG6sxbCM

— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2024

Meanwhile, Food Minister Pralhad Joshi called for a “detailed inquiry” and the culprit should be punished.

“Whatever the Chief Minister said is a matter of serious concern. A detailed enquiry is required and the culprit should be punished,” Joshi said.

The Tirupati Prasadam issue is a very serious matter and should be thoroughly investigated and the guilty punished. pic.twitter.com/EDcuBc6MIJ

— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) September 20, 2024

On Thursday (September 19), Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) claimed that the adulteration has been confirmed by government-run lab in Gujarat .

The samples which were tested were allegedly collected on July 9 when YSR Congress Party boss YS Jagan Mohan Reddy - was in power. The lab report was dated July 16.

TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference displayed the purported lab report which apparently confirmed the presence of “beef tallow” in the given ghee sample.

The purported lab report also claimed the presence of “lard” (relating to pig fat) and fish oil in the samples.

CM Naidu, on Wednesday (September 18) had alleged the previous YSRCP government had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddoos.

Earlier on Friday, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan said that he is deeply disturbed with the findings of the lab report that has confirmed animal fat like fish oil, pork fat and beef fat in Tirumala’s laddoo prasadam.

“We are all deeply disturbed with the findings of animal fat (fish oil, pork fat and beef fat) mixed in Tirupathi Balaji Prasad. Many questions to be answered by the TTD board constituted by YCP Govt then. Our Govt is committed to take stringent action possible. But, this throws light on many issues surrounding desecration of temples, its land issues and other dharmic practices,” Kalyan said in a post on X.

YSRCP denies allegation

Meanwhile, the opposition YSR Congress Party has vehemently denied the allegation.

YSR Congress leader and a former TTD chairman, YV Subba Reddy, said that Naidu would “stoop to any level for political gain”.

Reddy took to X where he wrote that Naidu had committed a “great sin” and that the Andhra CM had damaged “the sanctity of the divine temple Tirumala and the faith of hundreds of crores of Hindus”.

The YSRCP leader went on to say that he would take an oath in front of God in the temple on the matter and asked if Naidu would do the same.

The YSR Congress has also circulated a video of Syamala Rao, the IAS officer appointed TTD executive officer by Naidu, saying in June that a few batches of ghee used in preparation of Tirupati laddus was found to be adulterated with vegetable fats like vanaspati.

They added that Naidu knowingly was “politicising the issue” and turning it into a controversy.

With inputs from agencies.